D&C 95

Section Overview

What happens in D&C 95

Received June 1, 1833, in Kirtland, Ohio. The Lord sharply reproved the Saints for their delay in building the Kirtland Temple, which had been commanded months earlier. Despite the rebuke, the Lord promised that if they would build the temple, He would endow them with power from on high. This revelation reignited the temple building effort that would culminate in the remarkable spiritual manifestations at the Kirtland Temple dedication in 1836.

Scripture

Reproof for Delaying the Temple

Study note

The Lord chastens those He loves. The Saints are reproved for their grievous sin of not yet building the commanded house. The Lord walks among them and they do not see Him because of their transgression.

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you—

2 Wherefore, ye must needs be chastened and stand rebuked before my face;

3 For ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment in all things, that I have given unto you concerning the building of mine house;

4 For the preparation wherewith I design to prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I may bring to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh—

5 But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen.

6 They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day.

The Promise of Endowment from on High

Study note

If the temple is built, the Lord promises to endow His servants with power from on high. The endowment is directly tied to the construction of the temple. Without the building, the promise cannot be fulfilled.

7 And for this cause I gave unto you a commandment that you should call your solemn assembly, that your fastings and your mourning might come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, which is by interpretation, the creator of the first day, the beginning and the end.

8 Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high;

9 For this is the promise of the Father unto you; therefore I command you to tarry, even as mine apostles at Jerusalem.

10 Nevertheless, my servants sinned a very grievous sin; and contentions arose in the school of the prophets; which was very grievous unto me, saith your Lord; therefore I sent them forth to be chastened.

11 Verily I say unto you, it is my will that you should build a house. If you keep my commandments you shall have power to build it.

12 If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness.

Pattern and Instructions for the Temple

Study note

The Lord provides specific dimensions and a pattern for the temple, similar to how He gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle. The building is to be constructed according to divine specifications.

13 Now here is wisdom, and the mind of the Lord—let the house be built, not after the manner of the world, for I give not unto you that ye shall live after the manner of the world;

14 Therefore, let it be built after the manner which I shall show unto three of you, whom ye shall appoint and ordain unto this power.

15 And the size thereof shall be fifty and five feet in width, and let it be sixty-five feet in length, in the inner court thereof.

16 And let the lower part of the inner court be dedicated unto me for your sacrament offering, and for your preaching, and your fasting, and your praying, and the offering up of your most holy desires unto me, saith your Lord.

17 And let the higher part of the inner court be dedicated unto me for the school of mine apostles, saith Son Ahman; or, in other words, Alphus; or, in other words, Omegus; even Jesus Christ your Lord. Amen.

Key Themes

Themes in D&C 95

Divine reproof as evidence of God's loveThe endowment of power from on highTemple building as a sacred commandmentObedience precedes promised blessingsGod provides specific patterns for sacred buildings

Scripture Connections

How this section connects to Christ

D&C 95 1-2 Hebrews 12:6

The principle that whom the Lord loves He chastens directly echoes the author of Hebrews' teaching about divine discipline as evidence of God's fatherly love.

D&C 95 8-9 Luke 24:49

The promise of being endowed with power from on high uses the same language as Jesus' promise to His disciples before Pentecost, connecting the temple endowment to the apostolic empowerment.

D&C 95 13-17 Exodus 25:8-9

The Lord giving a specific pattern for the temple mirrors the divine pattern given to Moses for the tabernacle, showing God's continued involvement in the design of His holy houses.

Apply This Today

Living D&C 95

The Lord's rebuke is direct but saturated with love: 'Whom I love I also chasten.' Sometimes our greatest sin is not rebellion but procrastination—delay in doing what God has clearly asked. The Saints had been commanded to build a temple and simply had not done it. How often do we delay our own spiritual building projects—the scripture study we know we need, the relationship we need to mend, the covenant we need to make? The Lord ties the endowment directly to the temple, showing that there are blessings that can only come through obedience to specific commandments. We cannot receive the fullest blessings while postponing the required steps.

Go Deeper

Study the Doctrine and Covenants in Covenant Path

Read every section with study aids and daily reading plans — free in the app.

Download for iOS Download for Android